Sammamish, WA Animal Ordinances: Animal Hoarding (2026)

Sammamish does not have a separate hoarding ordinance; it relies on the cruelty, neglect, and adequate-care provisions of King County Code Title 11, adopted by reference in SMC 11.05 and enforced by Regional Animal Services. KCC 11.04.250 prohibits a range of acts, including injuring or killing an animal in a way that causes fright or pain, causing or allowing an animal to endure unjustified suffering, failing to provide adequate care, depriving an animal of necessary food, water, shelter, or veterinary care, leaving an animal unattended in a vehicle or enclosed space in a way that risks harm, and abandoning a domesticated animal. The adopted definition of adequate care requires species-appropriate food and water of sufficient quantity and quality to keep the animal in good health. These standards are the practical tools used against hoarding situations, where many animals are kept without adequate care. Civil penalties escalate for repeat violations, and KCC 11.04.350 makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally cause, aid, or abet violations of the cruelty and public-nuisance sections. The code also empowers the manager (the City of Sammamish or its designee under the adopted code) to prohibit a person who violates the cruelty provisions from owning, caring for, or residing with animals for up to two years (KCC 11.04.225). Washington's state animal-cruelty statutes (Chapter 16.52 RCW) provide an additional layer of criminal enforcement.